Health Minister: Medical Interns Must Report by Saturday or Lose Placements

The Ministry of Health is drawing a firm line for medical interns, emphasizing that August 15, 2026, is the absolute deadline for reporting to their designated hospitals. Those who fail to comply risk losing their internship positions entirely.

This directive comes in the wake of concerns raised in Parliament by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi. He alerted the House to a potential industrial action planned by medical interns and doctors nationwide if an ongoing “impasse” is not resolved. Ssenyonyi cited a letter from the Uganda Medical Association president, indicating a plan for industrial action if the government does not address the facilitation of medical interns within 14 days.

The current situation is linked to a shift in the health training policy, which has led to the discontinuation of the Shs1,000,000 payment previously provided to each medical student for their internship.

Minister Baryomunsi acknowledged the planned industrial action but urged interns to report for duty while consultations are finalized. He stated that discussions with the interns have been “cordial” and implored them not to be “misguided.” The Minister assured Parliament that the government is committed to finding a resolution and appreciates the interns’ work, requesting additional time to complete consultations.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa urged the Minister to expedite the consultation process, suggesting the matter be raised in Cabinet early the following week to provide a definitive position to Parliament. The mandatory supervised clinical internship is a crucial step for medical students before they can receive their university degrees under the current policy.

Source: Parliament of Uganda